Overview & Reviews

Nissan was born in Japan, and like other marques from its homeland, the brand is known for crafting vehicles that place an emphasis on quality and reliability. The company's roster of products is broad, and includes sporty coupes, family sedans, minivans, trucks and SUVs.

The automaker got its start in 1933 as the Jidosha Seico Co., Ltd. The following year, this outfit merged with another Japanese manufacturer, and the new company was christened Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. Nissan initially marketed its vehicles under the Datsun brand, with the first Datsuns being built in 1934. Postwar, the brand made its presence felt worldwide, building a partnership with the U.K.-based Austin Motor Co. and establishing a presence in the United States. The first Datsuns hit American shores in 1958. Vehicles like the Datsun 1000 were based on Austin platforms.

The '60s witnessed Nissan's merger with Prince Motor Company, a union that helped the Asian manufacturer create more luxury-focused vehicles. In the U.S. it began offering its first vehicle styled for the U.S. market, the Datsun 510 sedan. By the end of the decade, Datsun had exported more than 1 million vehicles. Datsun rose to prominence in the 1970s on the popularity of its 240Z sports car. Powered by an inline six-cylinder engine, the car was coveted for its blend of style, performance and affordability. By the time the '70s drew to a close, the automaker's cumulative vehicle exports had surpassed the 10 million mark.

In 1981, Nissan shelved the Datsun name and began selling vehicles worldwide under the Nissan moniker. The '80s also saw Nissan's launch of a tuning division called Nismo for the development of performance-oriented vehicles and accessories. Nissan also brought its production to American shores, with the construction of a Georgia-based plant.

The early '90s saw Nissan's fortunes rise in the U.S. thanks to fun-to-drive cars like the 300ZX, Maxima and Sentra. But this trend didn't last long and by the late '90s Nissan's offerings consisted of anonymous vehicles. The company's future was uncertain.

After the turn of the new century Nissan bounced back, helped by a 1999 alliance with Renault that boosted the company's finances. Its redesigned Sentra and Altima boosted sales and consumer interest, as did new models like the 350Z sports car, Armada SUV and Titan pickup. Today the manufacturer is known for offering a wide range of well-regarded vehicles, including the popular Murano SUV, the incredible GT-R supercar and the all-electric Leaf.

User Reviews:

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  Titan Crew Cab - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By Scott - January 5 - 1:03 pm

  Traded in a Frontier Crew Cab on the Titan because I wanted more power and more interior room. The acceleration and handling of the Titan are great. Gas mileage is about what I would expect for a 5,300 pound truck. Ive only had the truck for five months and I only have about 2,300 miles on the truck so far but alot of that was in mud and snow. So far I havent had any problems with it. Personally I dont care for the loud exhaust noise - I dont need it to remind me that I have a 305 HP engine under the hood, but Ive gotten used to it. Overall its a great truck.

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  Sentra Rocks - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By Teri - January 5 - 11:53 am

  I have never owned one of cars before, but my son got me a terrific deal on this one. Its a Nissan Special Edition with a 6-disk CD changer and a 1-disk loader, 6 inside speaker surround sound with a sub woofer mounted in the very large trunk. The left side of the back seat folds down, creating even more cargo space. Yes, the back seat is small, but Im very short and the only one in the car most of the time. Still, its big enough for my grandkids, carseats an all. I get great mileage with this wonderful little car, and theres even a window, part of the odometer, that tells my mileage as I go on. It also tells the outside temperature & how far Ive gone each trip. Be happy!!!

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  Quest - 2007 Nissan Quest
  By Ross Curti - January 5 - 7:23 am

  I would Give the quest an overall 7.8 it is not perfect but then again no other car is

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  So Far So Good - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By TITAN - January 5 - 7:10 am

  Handles nimbly, almost like a car, no drifting. Very quiet and very smooth transmission. Excellent pick-up. I have owned 4 Toyotas and this is my first Nissan. Well see what happens in 200K miles, though others say 300K with Nissans is no problem. Much better looking than the 08 Tundra and more affordable for me. My advice would be to drive both over the weekend and corner them hard and over the tracks. I think youll like the handling of the Titan. I love mine.

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  love everything but the engine - 2012 Nissan Rogue
  By bellasmom2 - January 4 - 2:51 pm

  Love everything about it except its 4 cyl. only option. It goes NO WHERE when I hit the gas. In summer, I have to turn the air conditioner off to get onto the highway! After being on the highway for a while with the A/C running and then stopping, I press on the accelerator to find the car doesnt even move. I thought it had broken down in the middle of the road until it started inching along. I took it to the dealership and they told me that theres nothing wrong with it. The engine performance is a joke! I called the dealership to ask if the 2012 would come with the 6 cyl. option and they told me to buy a Murano. Sorry Nissan, the Murano is too big so now Im seeking another brand!

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  Death at 163 miles - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By MADCONSUMER - January 4 - 7:30 am

  Picked up 2010 Altima with 4 miles on it. Car dies on the way home with 163 miles total. I know that this can happen, and Im not mad about the car breaking down as much as I am about the warranty company not helping me. I am responsible to pay for the rental. I am responsible for any miles over 35 towed and I am 100 miles away from home. The dealership will not give me a courtesy vehicle cause I did not purchase it from them. No rental company open. Basically Nissan proved to me that they will not stand behind their product and since they left us 100 miles away from home without a care, I will make sure that everyone I know never goes with Nissan.

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  This truck ROCKS - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Rob in MD - January 4 - 2:00 am

  Ive had mine since January. I love it and it drives like a sports car. I only have 3 minor and 1 major complaints. Ive had 50W stereos that sound better than the 500W Bose. There just doesnt seem like there is that much "elbow room" for the driver. The back cupholder needs to be moved forward (if you put a tall cup in there it will not sit straight due to the elbow rest). But the worst is the cheesy lettering on the luggage rack. These plastic letters started coming off immediately after I bought it.

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  Great, fun, and cheap - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By bscully - January 4 - 2:00 am

  After my Ford Ranger died, I wanted something that got more than 20 mpg and had cruise and air. The Sentra has this and more. Lots of fun to drive, GXE has lots of extras, and did I mention lots of fun to drive.

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  My First, But Not Last Altima - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By Mukul - January 4 - 2:00 am

  I was looking for a Honda Accord, but when I drove the Altima I immediately changed my mind. The 4-banger in this car is much more lively than the 4 in the Accord, hands down! This car is a pleasure to drive. A good car for long trips as well, especially commuting on the 405! Very reliable, so far!

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  One Bad Box - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By SERookie - January 4 - 2:00 am

  The first time my friend showed me a photo of the SE-R I was so turned off by the fact that it looked like every other Sentra. Then I drove one. This car is absolutely the best thing out there for under $18k. The ride is silky smooth once you get past 2nd (a little bit of torque steer in 1st and 2nd due to power). I feel in love once the dealer told me the monthly payment, and the driving just gets better and better.0